The Gospel of John
Today we transition from Mark’s Gospel to the Gospel of John. Read the Introduction to John’s Gospel here and then use the thoughts and questions below to prepare yourself for the journey through John. It will be helpful if you can find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes.
As you begin today’s meditation, find a comfortable place to sit where you can be uninterrupted for a few minutes. Take a moment to breathe deeply. Try silently calling on the name of Jesus as you inhale and exhale.
To understand John’s purpose for writing his Gospel meditate for a moment on these words from John 20:29-30: “The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book.But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.”
When you feel ready, take some time to contemplate the following questions.
John’s Gospel has a very different feel than Mark’s Gospel. Where Mark presents Jesus in his full humanity, John continually pulls back the curtain to show us Jesus’ divine nature. Stop to contemplate the fact that Jesus was both fully human and fully God. What thoughts or questions arise? Express these to Jesus.
Mark’s writing was succinct and to the point whereas John’s writing is rich with symbolism and contains multiple layers on which we can reflect. Which of these styles is more appealing to you? Talk to Jesus about this and consider asking him to reveal himself to you in new ways as you begin meditating on John’s Gospel.
What do you hope to gain from John’s Gospel? Talk over your answer with Jesus.
Now take a moment to be silent and simply listen. If you sense an invitation from Jesus of any kind, write down what you think he might be saying.
Finally, think about your current life circumstances. If there are areas of need in your life, express these to Jesus and ask him to open your eyes to how he wants to meet those needs as you journey with him in John’s Gospel.
End your time thanking Jesus for anything that comes to mind. You can simply repeat the sentence, “Thank you Jesus for…” over and over for a moment or two.
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